University Expands Summer Programs for K-12 Students

Families looking to avoid the inevitable “I’m bored” comments coming from children this summer are invited to come check out the 2018 academic summer camp opportunities available through the University of Mississippi’s Office of Pre-College Programs.
Interested parents and students in kindergarten through 12th grade can speak with camp faculty and participate in demonstrations during a special open house event Feb. 27 at the university’s Jackson Avenue Center. Visitors can stop by anytime from 4 to 6 p.m.
“These programs really open up the world to students,” said Ellen Shelton, director of pre-college programs. “It’s a great way to help them explore their passions, potential and even future careers options. They can enjoy some out-of-the-box experiences and learn something new.”
Students who will be in first through sixth grades this fall can participate in the popular Rebel Quest day camps offered in seven weekly sessions on the Oxford campus beginning the week of June 4.
“Rebel Quest works well for families because you can pick and choose the weeks your child attends and pay only for that week,” said Amy Goodin, UM project coordinator for elementary and middle school programs.
Last summer, Brian Hopkins, the university’s deputy CIO for academic technology, and his wife enrolled their daughter Lynnleigh Kate in Rebel Quest day camps to help prevent summer “brain drain.”
“We wanted her to stay engaged with learning over the summer months, but still have some fun,” Hopkins said. “She had the opportunity to enjoy campus and interact with peers while enjoying interesting activities.”
A few of Rebel Quest’s special weekly themes happening during summer 2018 are “Time Travelers,” “Space is the Place,” “Mad Scientist” and “All About Art.”
Middle school students have several new camps to choose from this summer that will open their eyes to new fields and tap into their creative side.
“It’s Dangerous to Go Alone: An Exploration of Game Design” will be a weeklong experience July 22-27 for rising sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders. Participants will learn to develop storylines and characters, different art styles, gaming platforms and more.
Budding writers and bloggers can hone their skills during “Creative Writing Camp: An Exploration of Literary Genres,” slated for July 8-13 for rising seventh- and eighth-graders. Students will gain confidence in their writing as they experiment with various writing styles such as short stories, plays, reviews, speeches and editorials.
Rising seventh- and eighth-grade artists can create their own worlds, characters and stories during the new class, “Imaginative Realism in Art: Drawing and Painting for Life,” taking place June 10-15. Participants will learn skills to improve their drawing and painting and also have opportunities to visit various art galleries on campus and in Oxford.
The new “Orchestra String Workshop” is designed to help musicians in grades 7-12 improve their individual and group playing in a relaxed and creative environment.
High school students also can take part in several new camps designed to prepare them for college and careers or explore areas that are of interest.
“This is a chance for students to really dive deep into a field, subject or activity that they are interested in that might not be highlighted as much in their school,” Shelton said.
“Backstage Magic” is an intensive stagecraft camp for rising 10th- to 12th-graders interested in the techniques used by professionals to create scenery and props, as well as lighting design, rigging and special effects. This camp takes place June 17-22.
The “Eco Footprint” workshop taking place June 10-15 for rising ninth- to 12th-graders will guide students in investigating water quality, food production, energy usage and waste production through hands-on lab investigations and field trips.
Students can study the significance of William Faulkner’s artistic vision during the “Art of the Story: Faulkner” workshop taking place July 23-27 for rising 11th- and 12th-graders.
The new “Shakespeare at the Movies” workshop takes on two Shakespeare plays, “The Taming of the Shrew” and “Macbeth,” to examine strategies of adapting Shakespeare’s plays to film and the problems and innovations that came out of that process. The camp is set for June 10-15 for rising ninth- to 12th-graders.
Also new this summer is the “Young Women’s Empowerment Workshop,” set for July 8-13 in partnership with the UM Sarah Isom Center for Women and Gender Studies. Women leaders from the university and community will spend time mentoring and sharing advice while students have an opportunity to shadow them in their careers.
Wordsmiths will discover the heart of the poem and ways for poetry to capture a range of emotions during the “Creative Writing-Poetry Workshop” offered June 3-8for rising ninth- to 12th-graders.
High school students can choose from several creative writing workshops this summer, including “Creative Writing-Prose,” happening June 10-15; “Writing for College Success,” offered July 15-20; and “Writing for Change” on June 3-8.
For more information on these and the numerous other academic summer camp options set for the Oxford campus this summer, visit https://www.outreach.olemiss.edu/summercamps.

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By Pam Starling